L-aminodicarboxylic acid alkenes

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to novel sweeteners of the formula: ##STR1## wherein A is hydroxyalkyl containing 1-3 carbon atoms 
     A&#39; is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1-3 carbon atoms; 
     Y is --(CHR 2 ) n  --R 1  or --CHR 3  R 4  ; 
     R 1  is cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bicycloalkyl or bicycloalkenyl containing up to 7 ring carbon atoms and up to a total of 12 carbon atoms; 
     R 2  is H or alkyl containing 1-4 carbon atoms; 
     R 3  and R 4  are each cycloalkyl containing 3-4 ring carbon atoms; 
     n=0 or 1; and 
     m=0 or 1; 
     and food-acceptable salts thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a novel group of compounds and more particularly to a novel group of compounds particularly well suited as sweeteners in edible foodstuff.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Sweetness is one of the primary taste cravings of both animals and humans. Thus, the utilization of sweetening agents in foods in order to satisfy this sensory desire is well established.

Naturally occuring carbohydrate sweeteners such as sucrose, are still the most widely used sweetening agents. While thse naturally occurring carbohydrates, i.e., sugars, generally fulfill the requirements of sweet taste, the abundant usage thereof does not occur without deleterious consequence, e.g., high caloric intake and nutritional imbalance. In fact, oftentimes the level of these sweeteners required in foodstuffs is far greater than the level of the sweetener that is desired for economic, dietetic or other functional consideration.

In an attempt to eliminate the disadvantages concomitant with natural sweeteners, considerable research and expense have been devoted to the production of artifical sweeteners, such as for example, saccharin, cyclamate, dihydrochalcone, aspartame, etc. While some of these artificial sweeteners satisfy the requirements of sweet taste without caloric input, and have met with considerable commercial success, they are not, however, without their own inherent disadvantages. For example, many of these artificial sweeteners have the disadvantages of high cost, as well as delay in the perception of the sweet taste, persistent lingering of the sweet taste, and very objectionable bitter, metallic aftertaste when used in food products.

Since it is believed that many disadvantages of artificial sweeteners, particularly aftertaste, is a function of the concentration of the sweetener, it has been previously suggested that these effects could be reduced or eliminated by combining artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, with other ingredients such as aspartame or natural sugars, such as sorbitol, dextrose, maltose, etc. These combined products, however, have not been entirely satisfactory either. Some U.S. Patents which disclose sweetener mixtures include for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,198; U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,068; U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,862; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,477.

Accordingly, much work has continued in an attempt to develop and identify compounds that have a sweet taste and which will satisfy the need for better lower calorie sweeteners. Search continues for sweeteners that have intense sweetness, that is, deliver a sweet taste at low use levels and which will also produce enough sweetness at low levels to act as sole sweetener for most sweetener applications. Furthermore, the sweeteners sought must have good temporal and sensory qualities. Sweeteners with good temporal qualities produce a time-intensity sweetness response similar to natural sweeteners without lingering. Sweeteners with good sensory qualities lack undesirable off tastes and aftertaste. Furthermore, these compounds must be economical and safe to use.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,204, L-aspartyl-O-t-butyl-L-serine methyl ester and L-aspartyl-O-t-amyl-L-serine methyl ester are described as sweet compounds having significant sweetness.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,716 metal complex salts of dipeptide sweetners are disclosed. In the background of this patent a generic formula is described as an attempt to represent dipeptide sweeteners disclosed in five prior patents: U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,403; U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,131; Republic of South Africa Pat. No. 695,083 published July 10, 1969; Republic of South Africa Pat. No. 695,910 published Aug. 14, 1969; and German Pat. No. 2,054,554. The general formula attempting to represent these patents is as follows: ##STR2##

wherein R represents the lower alkyls, lower alkylaryls and cycloalkyls, n stands for integers 0 through 5, R₁ represents (a) phenyl group, (b) lower alkyls, (c) cycloalkyls, (d) R₂.

Where R₂ is hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, halogen, (e) (S(O)_(m) (lower alkyl) where m is 0, 1 or 2 and provided n is 1 or 2, (f) R₃.

Where R₃ represents an hydroxy or alkoxy and (g) single or double unsaturated cycloalkyls with up to eight carbons. These compounds also are not entirely satisfactory in producing a high quality sweetness or in producing a sweet response at lower levels of sweetener.

Dipeptides of aspartyl-cysteine and aspartylmethionine methyl esters are disclosed by Brussel, Peer and Van der Heijden in Chemical Senses and Flavour, 4, 141-152 (1979) and in Z. Lebensm. Untersuch-Forsch., 159, 337-343 (1975). The authors disclose the following dipeptides:

α-L-Asp-L-Cys(Me)-OMe

α-L-Asp-L-Cys(Et)-OMe

α-L-Asp-L-Cys(Pr)-OMe

α-L-Asp-L-Cys(i-Pr)-OMe

α-L-Asp-L-Cys(t-But)-OMe

α-L-Asp-L-Met-OMe

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,163 to Brennan et al., sweeteners having the following formulas are disclosed: ##STR3## and physiologically acceptable cationic and acid addition salts thereof wherein

R^(a) is CH₂ OH or CH₂ OCH₃ ;

R is a branched member selected from the group consisting of fenchyl, diisopropylcarbinyl, d-methyl-t-butylcarbinyl, d-ethyl-t-butyl-carbinyl, 2-methylthio-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-yl, di-t-butyl-carbinyl, ##STR4##

In a related patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,925, Brennan, et al. disclose compounds of the above general formula with R being defined hereinabove, except R^(a) is defined as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,430 to Sklavounos discloses dipeptide sweeteners which are aromatic sulfonic acid salts of L-aspartyl-D-alaninoamides or L-aspartyl-D-serinamides.

European Patent Application No. 95772 to Tsau describe aspartyl dipeptide sweeteners of the formula: ##STR5## wherein R' is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, and R₂ is phenyl, phenylakylenyl or cyclohexylalkenyl, wherein the alkenyl group has 1 to 5 carbons. Closely related is U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,460 to Tsau, et al. which describes dipeptide sweeteners of the formula: ##STR6## wherein n is an integer from 0 to 5, and R₁ is an alkyl, alkylaryl or alicyclic radical. Similar such compounds are described in many related patents, the major difference being the definition of R₂.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,034 to Sheehan, et al., R₂ is defined as cycloalkenyl or phenyl. U.S. Pat. No. 3,695,898 to Hill defines R₂ as a mono- or a di-unsaturated alicyclic radical. Haas, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,701 define R₂ as phenyl, lower alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or cycloalkdienyl, or S(O)_(m) lower alkyl provided that n is 1 or 2 and m is 0 or 2. Closely related are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,448,716, 4,153,737, 4,031,258, 3,962,468, 3,714,139, 3,642,491, and 3,795,746.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,223 to Mazur, et al. describe dipeptide sweeteners and anti-inflammatory agents having the formula: ##STR7## wherein R is hydrogen or a methyl radical and R' is a radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, or ##STR8## wherein Alk is a lower alkylene radical, X is hydrogen or hydroxy, and Y is a radical selected from the group consisting of cyclohexyl, naphthyl, furyl, pyridyl, indolyl, phenyl and phenoxy.

Goldkamp, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,260 describe sweeteners of the formula: ##STR9## wherein R is hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical, Alk is a lower alkylene radical and R' is a carbocyclic radical. Closely related is U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,431.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,029 to Rizzi describes sweeteners of the formula: ##STR10## wherein R is C₄ -C₉ straight, branched or cyclic alkyl, and wherein carbons a, b and c have the (S) configuration.

European Patent Application No. 48,051 describes dipeptide sweeteners of the formula: ##STR11## wherein M represents hydrogen, ammonium, alkali or alkaline earth,

R represents ##STR12##

R₁ represents methyl, ethyl, propyl,

R₂ represents --OH, or OCH₃,

* signifies an L-optical configuration for this atom.

German Patent Application No. 7259426 discloses L-aspartyl-3-fenchylalanine methyl ester as a sweetening agent.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,822 to Chibata, et al., disclose sweeteners having the formula: ##STR13## wherein R' is hydrogen or hydroxy, R₂ is alkyl of one to five carbon atoms, alkenyl of two to three carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of three to five carbon atoms or methyl cycloalkyl of four to six carbon atoms and Y is alkylene of one to four carbon atoms.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,907,366 to Fujino, et al. discloses L-aspartyl-aminomalonic acid alkyl fenchyl diester and its' physiologically acceptable salts as useful sweeteners. U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,245 disclose the 2-methyl cyclohexyl analog of the abovementioned patent.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,626 discloses N-α L-aspartyl derivatives of lower alkyl esters of O-lower-alkanoyl-L-serine, β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid and D-β-aminobutyric acid as sweeteners.

Miyoshi, et al. in Bulletin of Chemical Society of Japan, 51, p. 1433-1440 (1978) disclose compounds of the following formula as sweeteners: ##STR14## wherein R' is H, CH₃, CO₂ CH₃, or benzyl and R₂ is lower alkyl or unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl.

European Patent Application No. 128,654 describes gem-diaminoalkane sweeteners of the formula: ##STR15## wherein m is 0 or 1, R is lower alkyl (substituted or unsubstituted), R' is H or lower alkyl, and R" is a branched alkyl, alkylcycloalkyl, cycloalkyl, polycycloalkyl, phenyl, or alkyl-substituted phenyl, and physically acceptable salts thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,563 to Nakajima, et al. disclose sweeteners of the formula: ##STR16## wherein R' is a branched or cyclic alkyl group of 3 to 8 carbon atoms, R₂ is a lower alkyl group of 1 to 2 carbon atoms and n is a integer of 0 or 1.

Rizzi, in J. Agric., Food Chem. 33, 19-24 (1985) synthesized sweeteners of the Formulas: ##STR17## wherein

R=

lower alkyl

i--C₃ H₇ --CH═CH--

i--C₃ H₇ --CH═CH--

(CH₃)₂ C═CH--CH₂ -- and ##STR18## wherein

R¹ =H, CH₃

R=

lower alkyl

i--C₃ H₇ --CH═CH--

European Patent Application 34,876 describes amides of L-aspartyl-D-amino acid dipeptides of the formula: ##STR19## wherein R^(a) is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl and R is a branched aliphatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic member which is branched at the alpha carbon atom and also branched again at one or both of the beta carbon atoms. These compounds are indicated to be of significant sweetness.

In the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1984, Vol. 27, No. 12, pp. 1663-8, are described various sweetener dipeptide esters, including L-aspartyl-α-aminocycloalkane methyl esters.

The various dipeptide esters of the prior art have been characterized as lacking significant stability at low pH values and/or thermal stability. These characterstics have limited the scope of use of these sweeteners in food products which are of low pH values or are prepared or served at elevated temperatures.

Accordingly, it is desired to find compounds that provide quality sweetness when added to foodstuffs or pharmaceuticals at low levels and thus eliminate or greatly diminish the aforesaid disadvantages associated with prior art sweeteners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present new compounds are amides of certain α-aminodicarboxylic acids and aminoalkenes which are low calorie sweeteners that possess a high order of sweetness with pleasing taste and higher stability at acid pH and elevated temperatures compared to known dipeptide sweeteners.

This invention provides new sweetening compounds represented by the formula: ##STR20## wherein

A is hydroxyalkyl containing 1-3 carbon atoms

A' is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1-3 carbon atoms;

Y is --(CHR₂)_(n) --R₁ or --CHR₃ R₄ ;

R₁ is cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bicycloalkyl or bicycloalkenyl containing up to 7 ring carbon atoms and up to a total of 12 carbon atoms;

R₂ is H or alkyl containing 1-4 carbon atoms;

R₃ and R₄ are each cycloalkyl containing 3-4 ring carbon atoms;

n=0 or 1; and

m=0 or 1;

and food-acceptable salts thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention, the preferred compounds are those in which n=0 and R₁ is an alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl containing 5-7 ring carbon atoms and up to a total of 10 carbon atoms. Especially preferred are cycloalkyl substituted with at least one methyl group on the β and/or β' carbon atoms of the cycloalkyl ring. Particularly preferred cycloalkyls include cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, and cyclohexyl and the preferred bicycloalkyl is fenchyl.

Also preferred are those compounds in which Y=CHR₃ R₄ wherein R₃ is a cyclopropyl group and R₄ is preferably tertiary cyclobutyl, or cyclopropyl.

The groups representative of Y in the present new compounds include such groups as cycloalkyl, e.g., cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, etc.; alkyl-substituted cycloalkyls, e.g., 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, 1-methylcyclobutyl, 1-methylcycloheptyl, 1,2-dimethylcycloheptyl, 2,3-dimethylcyclopentyl, 2,3-dimethylcyclohexyl, 2,3-dimethylcycloheptyl, 2,4-dimethylcyclopentyl, 2,4-dimethylcyclohexyl, 2,4-dimethylcycloheptyl, 2,5-dimethylcyclopentyl, 2,5-dimethylcyclohexyl, 2,5-dimethylcycloheptyl, 2,6-dimethylcyclohexyl, 2,6-dimethylcycloheptyl, 2,7-dimethylcycloheptyl, 3,5-dimethylcyclopentyl, 4,5-dimethylcyclopentyl, 4,5-dimethylcycloheptyl, 3,6-dimethylcyclohexyl, 3,7-dimethylcycloheptyl, 4,6-dimethylcyclohexyl, 4,7-dimethylcycloheptyl, 5,6-dimethylcyclohexyl, 5,6-dimethylcyclohexyl, 5,7-dimethylcycloheptyl, 6,7-dimethylcycloheptyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclopentyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclohexyl, 2,2-dimethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,3-trimethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,3-trimethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,3-trimethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,4-trimethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,4-trimethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,4-trimethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,5-trimethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,5-trimethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,5-trimethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,3-trimethylcyclopentyl, 2,3,3-trimethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,3-trimethylcycloheptyl, 2,4,4-trimethylcyclopentyl, 2,4,4-trimethylcyclohexyl, 2,4,4-trimethylcycloheptyl, 1,2,3-trimethylcyclopentyl, 1,2,3-trimethylcyclohexyl, 1,2,3-trimethylcycloheptyl, 1,2,4-trimethylcyclopentyl, 1,2,4-trimethylcyclohexyl, 1,2,4-trimethylcycloheptyl, 1,2,5-trimethylcyclopentyl, 1,2,5-trimethylcyclohexyl, 1,2,5-trimethylcycloheptyl, 1,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl, 1,2,6-trimethylcycloheptyl, 1,2,7-trimethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,4-trimethylcyclopentyl, 2,3,4-trimethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,4-trimethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,5-trimethylcyclopentyl, 2,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,5-trimethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,6-trimethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,6-trimethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,7-trimethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,7,7-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,3,3-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 1,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 1,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 1,2,3,4-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 1,2,3,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 1,2,3,5-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 1,2,3,5-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 1,2,3,6-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 1,2,3,6-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,4,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,3,4,5-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,4,5-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,4,6-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,4,6-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,4,7-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,3,4-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,3,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,3,5-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,3,5-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,3,6-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,3,6-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,3,7-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,3,4-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,3,4-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,3,3,4-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,3,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,3,5-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,3,5-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,3,6-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,3,6-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,3,3,7-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,3,3,4-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,3,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,3,5-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,3,6-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,3,6-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,3,7-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,4,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl, 2,2,4,5-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,4,5-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,4,6-tetramethylcyclohexyl, 2,2,4,6-tetramethylcycloheptyl, 2,2,4,7-tetramethylcycloheptyl, dicyclopropylmethyl, t-butylcyclopropylmethyl, dicyclobutylmethyl, t-butylcyclobutylmethyl, etc.; β-alkyl-substituted cycloalkenes, e.g., 2-methyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2-methyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 2-methyl-3-cycloheptenyl, 2-methyl-4-cycloheptenyl, 5-methyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 2-methyl-2-cyclopentenyl, 2-methyl-2-cyclohexenyl, 2-methyl-2-cycloheptenyl, 2-methyl-2-cyclopentenyl, 6-methyl-2-cyclohexenyl, 7-methyl-2-cycloheptenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenyl, 2,4-dimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl, 2,4-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenyl, 2,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenyl, 2,5-dimethyl-2-cycloheptenyl, 2,6-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenyl, 2,6-dimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2,5-dimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2,5-dimethyl-2-cyclopentenyl, 2,4-dimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 2,4-dimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 4,5-dimethylcyclo-3-pentenyl, 5,5-dimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 6,6-dimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 1,5-dimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 2,2,6-trimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2,2,5-trimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2,5,5-trimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2,7,7-trimethyl-3-cycloheptenyl, 2,7,7-trimethyl-4-cycloheptenyl, 2,2,7-trimethyl-3-cycloheptenyl, 2,2,7-trimethyl-4-cycloheptenyl, 2,3,6-trimethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2,3,7-trimethyl-3-cycloheptenyl, 2,3,5-trimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 2,2,6,6 -tetramethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 2,2,7,7-tetramethyl-3-cycloheptenyl, 2,3,5,5-tetramethyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 2,3,6,6-tetramethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2,3,7,7-tetramethyl-3-cycloheptenyl, 2,3,6,6-tetramethyl-3-cycloheptenyl, 2,3,5,5-tetramethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, 2,3,4,5-tetramethyl-3-cyclopentenyl, 2,3,4,5-tetramethyl-3-cyclohexenyl, etc.; bicyclic compounds, such as norbornyl, norcaranyl, norpinanyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl, etc.; alkyl substituted bicyclic compounds, e.g., 6,6-dimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1]heptyl, 6,7,7-trimethylnorbornyl (bornyl or camphanyl), pinanyl, thujanyl, caranyl, fenchyl, 2-norbornylmethyl, etc.; unsubstituted and alkyl-substituted bicycloalkenes such as norbornenyl, norpinenyl, norcarenyl, 2-(4-norbornenyl)methyl, pinenyl, carenyl, fenchenyl, etc.; and tricyclo compounds such as adamantyl and alkyl-substituted adamantyl, etc.

The preferred R₁ is cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl or alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl, especially where the alkyl group is in the β or β' positions. Further, preference exists for compounds in which R₁ is a cycloalkyl with two, three or four alkyl groups in the β,β' positions such as β,β,β',β'-tetraalkyl-substituted cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl, as well as β,β,β'-trialkyl substituted cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, and cycloheptyl, and fenchyl. Also preferred are β-alkylcycloalkyls in which the alkyl group is isopropyl or tertiary butyl.

These novel compounds are effective sweetness agents when used alone or in combination with other sweeteners in an ingesta, e.g., foodstuffs or pharmaceuticals. For example, other natural and/or artificial sweeteners which may be used with the novel compounds of the present invention include sucrose, fructose, corn syrup solids, dextrose, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, acetosulfam, thaumatin, invert sugar, saccharin, thiophene saccharin, meta-aminobenzoic acid, metahydroxybenzoic acid, cyclamate, chlorosucrose, dihydrochalcone, hydrogenated glucose syrups, aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester) and other dipeptides, glycyrrhizin and stevioside and the like. These sweeteners when employed with the sweetness agents of the present invention, it is believed, could produce synergistic sweetness responses.

Furthermore, when the sweetness agents of the present invention are added to ingesta, the sweetness agents may be added alone or with nontoxic carriers such as the abovementioned sweeteners or other food ingredients such as acidulants and natural and artificial gums. Typical foodstuffs, and pharmaceutical preparations, in which the sweetness agents of the present invention may be used are, for example, beverages including soft drinks, carbonated beverages, ready to mix beverages and the like, infused foods (e.g. vegetables or fruits), sauces, condiments, salad dressings, juices, syrups, desserts, including puddings, gelatin and frozen desserts, like ice creams, sherbets, icings and flavored frozen desserts on sticks, confections, toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum, cereals, baked goods, intermediate moisture foods (e.g. dog food) and the like.

In order to achieve the effects of the present invention, the compounds described herein are generally added to the food product at a level which is effective to perceive sweetness in the food stuff and suitably is in an amount in the range of from about 0.0005 to 2% by weight based on the consumed product. Greater amounts are operable but not practical. Preferred amounts are in the range of from about 0.001 to about 1% of the foodstuff. Generally, the sweetening effect provided by the present compounds are experienced over a wide pH range, e.g. 2 to 10 preferably 3 to 7 and in buffered and unbuffered formulations.

It is desired that when the sweetness agents of this invention are employed alone or in combination with another sweetener, the sweetener or combination of sweeteners provide a sucrose equivalent in the range of from about 2 weight percent to about 40 weight percent and more preferably from about 3 weight percent to about 15 weight percent in the foodstuff or pharmaceutical.

A taste procedure for determination of sweetness merely involves the determination of sucrose equivalency. Sucrose equivalence for sweeteners are readily determined. The amount of a sweetener that is equivalent to a given weight percent sucrose can be determined by having a panel of tasters taste solutions of a sweetener at known concentrations and match its sweetness to standard solutions of sucrose.

In order to prepare compounds of the present invention, several reaction schemes may be employed. In one reaction scheme, compounds of general formula II (a protected α-aminodicarboxylic acid) and III (3-amino-1-propene derivatives) are condensed to form compounds of general formula IV: ##STR21## In these, Z is an amino protecting group, B is a carboxy protecting group, and A, A', Y, and n have the same meaning as previously described. A variety of protecting groups known in the art may be employed. Examples of many of these possible groups may be found in "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis" by T. W. Green, John Wiley and Sons, 1981. Among the preferred groups that may be employed are benzyloxycarbonyl for A and benzyl for B.

Coupling of compounds with general formula II to compounds having general formula III employs established techniques in peptide chemistry. One such technique uses dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as the coupling agent. The DCC method may be employed with or without additives such as 4-dimethylaminopyridine or copper (II). The DCC coupling reaction generally proceeds at room temperature, however, it may be carried out from about -20° to 50° C. in a variety of solvents inert to the reactants.

Thus suitable solvents include, but are not limited to, N,N-dimethyl-formamide, methylene chloride, toluene and the like. Preferably the reaction is carried out under an inert atmosphere such as argon or nitrogen. Coupling usually is complete within 2 hours but may take as long as 24 hours depending on reactants.

Various other amide-forming methods can be employed to prepare the desired compounds using suitable derivatives of the free-carboxy group in compounds of structure II, e.g., acid halide, mixed anhydride with acetic acid and similar derivatives. The following illustrates such methods using aspartic acid as the amino dicarboxylic acid.

One such method utilizes the reaction of N-protected aspartic anhydrides with the selected amino compound of formula III. Thus compounds of formula III can be reacted directly in inert organic solvents with L-aspartic anhydride having its amino group protected by a formyl, carbobenzloxy, or p-methoxycarbobenzloxy group which is subsequently removed after coupling to give compounds of general formula I. The N-acyl-L-aspartic anhydrides are prepared by reacting the corresponding acids with acetic anhydride in amounts of 1.0-1.2 moles per mole of the N-acyl-L-aspartic acid at 0° to 60° C. in an inert solvent. The N-acyl-L-aspartic anhydrides are reacted with preferably 1 to 2 moles of compounds of formula III in an organic solvent capable of dissolving both and inert to the same. Representative solvents are ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, ethyl ether, N,N-dimethylformamide and benzene. The reaction proceeds smoothly at 0° to 30° C. The N-acyl group is removed after coupling by catalytic hydrogenation with palladium on carbon or with HBr or HCl in a conventional manner. U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,372 discloses that this coupling method can also be performed in an aqueous solvent at a temperature of -10° to 50° C. and at a pH of 4-12.

Compounds of general formula III are synthesized using art recognized techniques. For example, compounds of formula III can be synthesized by the dehydration of the corresponding alcohol, which is formed by reacting a Grignard reagent of formula V with an aldehyde (VI) ##STR22## The Grignard reaction generally proceeds at 0° C., however, it may be carried out from about -200° C. to 50° C. in a variety of solvents inert to the reactants. Thus, suitable solvents include diethylether, tetrahydrofuran, and the like.

Alternatively, compound VI is reacted with the appropriate Wittig reagent under art-recognized conditions, e.g., ##STR23##

Compounds of formula V are prepared by art recognized procedures from commercially available starting materials. One such method involves reacting the appropriate Wittig reagent, such as methoxymethyltriphenylphosphonium chloride with ketone, such as cyclopentanone, in the presence of a strong base, e.g., sec-butyllithium, to form the corresponding enol-ether, which is hydrolyzed and then reduced by typical reducing agents, such as sodium borohydride to form a halide from which the Grignard reagent is prepared.

The aldehyde (VI) is itself prepared from reduction of an amino acid or its corresponding ester. Typical reducing agents include (iso-Bu)₂ AlH, LiAlH₄ and Bis(N-methylpiperazinyl) aluminum hydride. Typical temperatures for this reaction are in the range of -70° to room temperature. The reaction is carried out in solvents which are inert to both reactants and products and will dissolve both reactants. Examples include tetrahydrofuran, diethylether, methylene chloride, dimethyl formamide and the like.

With regard to the removal of protecting groups from compounds of formula IV and N-protected precursors of formula III, a number of deprotecting techniques are known in the art and can be utilized to advantage depending on the nature of the protecting groups. Among such techniques is catalytic hydrogenation utilizing palladium on carbon or transfer hydrogenation with 1,4-cyclohexadiene. Generally the reaction is carried at room temperature but may be conducted from 5° to 65° C. Usually the reaction is carried out in the presence of a suitable solvent which may include, but are not limited to water, methanol, ethanol, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, acetic acid, t-butyl alcohol, isopropanol or mixtures thereof. The reaction is usually run at a positive hydrogen pressure of 50 psi but can be conducted over the range of 20 to 250 psi. Reactions are generally quantitative taking 1 to 24 hours for completion.

In any of the previous synthetic methods the desired products are preferably recovered from reaction mixtures by crystallization. Alternatively, normal or reverse-phase chromatography may be utilized as well as liquid/liquid extraction or other means.

The desired compounds of formula I are usually obtained in the free acid form; they may also be recovered as their physiologically acceptable salts, i.e., the corresponding amino salts such as hydrochloride, sulfate, hydrosulfate, nitrate, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, phosphate or hydrophosphate; or the alkali metal salts such as the sodium, potassium, lithium, or the alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium or magnesium, as well as aluminum, zinc and like salts.

Conversion of the free peptide derivatives of formula I into their physiologically acceptable salts is carried out by conventional means, as for example, bringing the compounds of formula I into contact with a mineral acid, an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal oxide or carbonate or an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, oxide, carbonate or other complexed form.

These physiologically acceptable salts can also be utilized as sweetness agents usually having increased solubility and stability over their free forms.

It is known to those skilled in the art that the compounds of the present invention having asymmetric carbon atoms may exist in racemic or optically active forms. All of these forms are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

The compounds of the present invention have one asymmetric site, which is designated by an asterik (*) in the formula below, and one pseudo-asymmetric site which is designated by a double asterik (**): ##STR24## Whenever A is identical to A', the compounds of the present invention have only one asymmetric site, designated by the asterik, in the dicarboxylic acid moiety. Although both the D and L forms are possible; the preferred compounds are those in which the dicarboxylic acid group is in the L-configuration. Whenever, the groups A' and A are different, the carbon atoms designated by the double asteriks become assymmetric centers and the compounds of the present invention will contain at least two asymmetric centers. Regardless, the configuration around each of the asymmetric sites, whenever present, may exist in either the D or L forms, and all possible stereoisomers are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.

The presence of the double bond in the vinyl substituent also creates, geometric isomers, which can exist in either the cis- or trans-forms. The trans stereoisomer is the preferred species. Thus, the compounds of the present invention are diastereomers, which can be separated, if desired, by art-recognized techniques, as, for example, chromatography. However, mixtures of at least any two stereoisomers exhibit sweetness properties and are useful as sweeteners.

The following examples further illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 N-L-Aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl)but-1-ene

Methoxymethyltriphenylphosphonium chloride is suspended in tetrahydrofuran at 0° C. under argon. Sec-Butyllithium in cyclohexane is added, followed by a solution of 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentanone in tetrahydrofuran. After one hour water is added to the reaction mixture. The organic layer is separated, washed with water, dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to yield the enol ether. The ether is dissolved in dioxane and 2M H₂ SO₄ is added. The mixture is refluxed until the reaction mixture is complete as shown by thin layer chromatography. The mixture is poured into water and extracted with ether. The organic layer is dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to yield 2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentane-1-carboxyaldehyde.

2,2,5,5-Tetramethylcyclopentane-1-carboxaldehyde is dissolved in 95% ethanol and sodium borohydride is added. After 24 hours, the reaction is quenched with 1M HCl and extracted with ether. The extract is washed, dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to yield 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-cyclopentylmethanol.

2,2,5,5-Tetramethyl-1-cyclopentylmethanol is dissolved in benzene and stirred at 0° C. under argon. A solution of phosphorus tribromide in benzene is added and the mixture is stirred for 2 hours and then heated to 60° C. for 4 hours. The mixture is cooled, poured into ice and extracted with ether. The organic layer is washed with saturated NaHCO₃, dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to yield 2,2,5,5-Tetramethyl-1-cyclopentylmethyl bromide.

N-CBZ-D-serine methyl ester is dissolved in toluene and 2 equivalents of dihydropyran. 0.1 equivalents of para-toluene-sulfonic acid is added and the contents of the flask are stirred overnight at room temperature. The solvents are removed under vacuum to give a paste. The paste is dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with dilute sodium hydrogen carbonate. The organic phase is dried and evaporated to give N-CBZ-D-serine-methyl ester-O-tetrahydropyran.

The toluene solution is cooled to -78° C. and 2.2 equivalents of di-isobutyl aluminum hydride is added through a syringe. The solution is stirred for six hours at -78° C. TLC shows loss of starting material. The contents of the flask are quenched with 10% aqueous citric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer is dried and evaporated to give N-CBZ-D-serinal-O-tetrahydropyran.

Triphenylphosphine is suspended in toluene. 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl cyclopentyl methyl bromide is added and the reaction is refluxed. The mixture is cooled and the phosphonium salt is collected by vacuum filtration.

The 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl cyclopentylmethyl triphenylphosphonium chloride is suspended in tetrahydrofuran at 0° C. under argon. Sec-Butyllithium in cyclohexane is added followed by a solution of N-CBZ-D-serinal-O-tetrahydropyran in tetrahydrofuran. After one hour, water is added to the reaction mixture. The organic layer is separated, washed with water, dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to afford 3-amino-4-O-THP-1-(2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl)-1-butene.

To a magnetically stirred solution of the above product in dry dimethylformamide at 0° C. under argon is added N-Cbz-L-aspartic acid beta-benzyl ester followed by copper (II) chloride and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. This is stirred for 18 hours, after which the reaction mixture is poured into 0.1N HCl and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase is washed with saturated NaHCO₃ and then water, and dried over MgSO₄. Evaporation of the solvent yields N-(N'-Cbz-L-Aspartyl beta-benzyl ester)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-1-(2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl)-1-butene.

The above product is dissolved in absolute ethanol to give a 0.1M solution. An equivalent weight of 10% palladium on carbon is added and the solution is cooled in an ultra-sound ice bath. Cyclohexadiene (10 equivalents) is added, and the solution is sonicated. After the reaction is complete, as judged by thin layer chromatography, the mixture is filtered through Celite with ethanol and evaporated to yield N-L-Aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl)but-1-ene and N-L-Aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl)butane. The alkene is separated by column chromatography with silica gel as adsorbent.

Similarly, by using the appropriate starting materials, the following dipeptides are also synthesized:

N-L-aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2,2,5-trimethylcyclopentyl)but-1-ene.

N-L-aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2,5-dimethylcyclopentyl)but-1-ene.

N-L-aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(dicyclopropylmethyl)but-1-ene.

N-L-aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(fenchyl)but-1-ene.

N-L-aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2-t-butylcyclopentyl)but-1-ene.

N-L-aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(1-t-butyl-1-cyclopropylmethyl)but-1-ene.

N-L-aspartyl-4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(1-isopropyl-1-cyclopropylmethyl)but-1-ene.

The compounds of the present invention possess higher sweetness and/or stability in comparison with comparable compounds of the prior art.

The present new compounds are of substantially higher stability to acid pH and exhibit a substantially higher thermal stability than aspartame, the present commercially-used synthetic dipeptide sweetener. However, some of these compounds may be of the same order of sweetness as aspartame with others being of a higher order of sweetness. In general, the most preferred compounds are those which exhibit an order of sweetness which is at least about twice that of aspartame.

In particular, compounds in which Y is a cycloalkyl, especially a β-methyl-substituted cycloalkyl as defined herein, are of significantly high order of sweetness. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound represented by the formula: ##STR25## wherein A is hydroxyalkyl containing 1-3 carbon atoms;A' is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1-3 carbon atoms; Y is --(CHR₂)_(n) R₁ or --CHR₃ R₄ ; R₁ is cycloalkyl, alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-substituted cycloalkenyl, bicycloalkyl, alkyl-substituted bicycloalkyl, bicycloalkenyl or alkyl-substituted bicycloalkenyl each containing up to 7 ring carbon atoms and up to a total of 12 carbon atoms; R₂ is H or alkyl containing 1-4 carbon atoms; R₃ and R₄ are each cycloalkyl containing 3-4 ring carbon atoms; n is 0 or 1; and m is 0 or 1; and food-acceptable salts thereof.
 2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R₁ is cyclopentyl each of or cyclohexyl containing a total of up to 10 carbon atoms.
 3. A compound according to claim 1 wherein n is
 0. 4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R₁ is a mono-, di-, tri- or tetramethyl cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl each containing up to 10 carbon atoms.
 5. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R₁ is a β-methyl-substituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl.
 6. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R₁ is a β,β or β,β'-dimethyl-substituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl.
 7. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R₁ is a β,β,β'-trimethyl-substituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl.
 8. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R₁ is a β,β,β',β'-tetramethyl-substituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl.
 9. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R₃ and R₄ are cyclopropyl.
 10. A trans-alkene compound repesented by the formula: ##STR26## and food acceptable salts thereof wherein: A is hydroxyalkyl containing 1-3 carbon atomsA' is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1-3 carbon atoms Y is --(CHR₂)_(n) --R₁ or --CHR₃ R₄ ; R₁ is cycloalkyl, alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-substituted cycloalkenyl, bicycloalkyl, alkyl-substituted bicycloalkyl, bicycloalkenyl or alkyl-substituted bicycloalkenyl each containing up to 7 ring carbon atoms and up to a total of 12 carbon atoms, R₂ is H or alkyl containing 1-4 carbon atoms; R₃ and R₄ are each cycloalkyl containing 3-4 ring carbon atoms; n is 0 or 1; and m is 0 or
 1. 11. A compound according to claim 10 wherein R₁ is cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl each containing a total of up to 10 carbon atoms.
 12. A compound according to claim 10 wherein n is
 0. 13. A compound according to claim 10 wherein R₁ is a mono-, di-, tri or tetramethyl cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl each containing up to 10 carbon atoms.
 14. A compound according to claim 10 and wherein R₃ and R₄ are cyclopropyl.
 15. The compound according to claim 1 which is N-L-aspartyl 4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2,2,5,5-tetramethylcyclopentyl)but-1-ene.
 16. The compound according to claim 1 which is N-L-aspartyl 4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2,2,5-trimethylcyclopentyl)but-1-ene.
 17. The compound according to claim 1 which is N-L-aspartyl 4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2,5-dimethylcyclopentyl)but-1-ene.
 18. The compound according to claim 1 which is N-L-aspartyl 4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(dicyclopropylmethyl)but-1-ene.
 19. The compound according to claim 1 which is N-L-aspartyl 4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(fenchyl)but-1-ene.
 20. The compound according to claim 1 which is N-L-aspartyl 4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(2-t-butylcyclopentyl)but-1-ene.
 21. The compound according to claim 1 which is N-L-aspartyl 4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(1-t-butyl-1-cyclopropylmethyl)but-1-ene.
 22. The compound according to claim 1 which is N-L-aspartyl 4-hydroxy-3-amino-1-(1-isopropyl-1-cyclopropylmethyl)but-1-ene.
 23. A compound of claim 10 wherein R₁ is a β,β or β,β'-dimethyl-substituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl.
 24. A compound of claim 10 wherein R₁ is a β,β,β'-trimethyl-substituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl.
 25. A compound according to claim 10 wherein R₁ is a β,β,β',β'-tetramethyl-substituted cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl. 